Leland police officer resigns after checkpoint incident

Published: Sunday, July 7, 2013 at 12:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, July 7, 2013 at 3:15 p.m.

Anthony Bernard, the Leland police officer involved in a June checkpoint shooting in Brunswick County, has resigned from the police department.

An internal investigation found that Bernard's decision to fire his weapon was justified, but he violated department policies by not immediately disclosing that he'd used his weapon.

“You're supposed to report the fact that you shot in a timely manner and he didn't do that,” said David Hollis, Leland's town manager, adding that the officer should have notified higher-ups of the incident that night.

Bernard waited until Monday to disclose that he'd discarged his firearm.

“This is fairly serious,” Hollis said. “I don't think we have a zero-tolerance policy, but this is a serious issue where we need our police officers to follow this type of policy very strictly.”

The June 14 incident began when Antoine Levar Graham, 34, and Jerry Onasis Melvin, 42, were seen tossing items from a Lincoln Navigator approaching a checkpoint before they tried to escape by driving the vehicle at officers.

Police then opened fire on the SUV, and one of the occupants fell out. Law enforcement stopped the vehicle on U.S. 17 after a brief chase.

Graham and Melvin were each shot several times and treated at the hospital before being booked into Brunswick County jail.

Graham is charged with 10 counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, 10 counts of assault with a deadly weapon on a government official, one count of flee/elude arrest with a motor vehicle, one count of felony conspiracy to flee, one count of possession of marijuana up to 1/2 ounce and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Melvin is charged with eight counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, eight counts of assault with a deadly weapon on a government official and one count of felony conspiracy to elude.

The other officers involved in the incident, including a corporal and three deputies from the Brunswick County Sheriff's Office and a sergeant and two deputies from the New Hanover County Sheriff's Office, have been cleared to return to work after internal investigations cleared them of any wrongdoing.

<p><empty></p><p>Anthony Bernard, the <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/topic9971"><b>Leland</b></a> police officer involved in a June checkpoint shooting in Brunswick County, has resigned from the police department.</p><p>An internal investigation found that Bernard's decision to fire his weapon was justified, but he violated department policies by not immediately disclosing that he'd used his weapon.</p><p>“You're supposed to report the fact that you shot in a timely manner and he didn't do that,” said David Hollis, Leland's town manager, adding that the officer should have notified higher-ups of the incident that night.</p><p>Bernard waited until Monday to disclose that he'd discarged his firearm.</p><p>“This is fairly serious,” Hollis said. “I don't think we have a zero-tolerance policy, but this is a serious issue where we need our police officers to follow this type of policy very strictly.”</p><p>The June 14 incident began when Antoine Levar Graham, 34, and Jerry Onasis Melvin, 42, were seen tossing items from a Lincoln Navigator approaching a checkpoint before they tried to escape by driving the vehicle at officers.</p><p>Police then opened fire on the SUV, and one of the occupants fell out. Law enforcement stopped the vehicle on U.S. 17 after a brief chase.</p><p>Graham and Melvin were each shot several times and treated at the hospital before being booked into Brunswick County jail.</p><p>Graham is charged with 10 counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, 10 counts of assault with a deadly weapon on a government official, one count of flee/elude arrest with a motor vehicle, one count of felony conspiracy to flee, one count of possession of marijuana up to 1/2 ounce and possession of drug paraphernalia.</p><p>Melvin is charged with eight counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, eight counts of assault with a deadly weapon on a government official and one count of felony conspiracy to elude.</p><p>The other officers involved in the incident, including a corporal and three deputies from the Brunswick County Sheriff's Office and a sergeant and two deputies from the <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/topic9932"><b>New Hanover County Sheriff</b></a>'s Office, have been cleared to return to work after internal investigations cleared them of any wrongdoing.</p>